Page 87 of The Producer: Aaron

Linda laughs and nods, then gets up, grabs her stuff, and leaves.

“I’m happy.” She winks at her. “I’ll let you know what I think, okay?”

“Take as much time as you need,” I say as I greet her with my hand and watch her walk out of the coffee.

Dakota is practically quivering in the chair as she drinks from her coffee.

“Don’t expect her to call us soon. It will take days to read the contract. Probably she will get help from some colleague who deals with this type of contract. Don’t have too many expectations, okay? We are only at the beginning of the negotiation,” I explain.

Dakota nods, but I see from how her eyes shine that she hashigh expectations from this meeting, and I am afraid she will be disappointed.

***

We arrive home a few hours later with the dinner we bought at the Chinese restaurant, returning from our appointment with Linda. While Dakota rests the containers on the table, I set it up. That’s why I answer without thinking when the phone rings with a number I don’t recognize.

“Aaron Steel.”

“Aaron, it’s Linda,” she replies on the other side.

I am so petrified by her answer that I freeze in the middle of the kitchen with Dakota watching me, worried.

“I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.” I try to probe the ground. Usually, when they call after so few hours, it is because they have looked at the figure and want to raise the stakes, refusing to sign the contract.

“Yes, it’s not that there’s much to think about with the amount you propose,” she admits. I feel a little uncomfortable because I already know that it will be a rejection, and I will have to explain it to Dakota, who looks at me with hopeful eyes when she understands who it is.

“Have you read the entire contract? Including the part of the royalties for merchandising?” I try to bring the topic to other forms of payments. Sometimes people dwell only on the amount they collect upfront but gloss over the percentage of merchandise that can bring a continuous flow of money when the series is well underway.

“Yes, of course. That’s why I decided to sign. It’s a good proposal. I talked about it with my husband. I added some small clauses to the contract, nothing too disrupting. If you like,send it to me modified, and I’ll let you have it signed through a courier,” she replies efficiently, like someone who is used to doing this for work every day.

“That’s fine. I am on it tonight and asking my lawyer to make the changes. I think I can send it to you in the morning.” I try not to let the excitement I feel at this moment shine through too much.

I’ve signed hundreds of contracts, but this one tastes different. The excitement I feel in my chest is difficult to contain, and I must remember that she has not yet signed. I have yet to look at the changes she has requested, but it is difficult not to feel overwhelmed by this news that tastes of victory. I didn’t realize how worried I was about receiving a rejection until I got this news.

“Perfect, I’m waiting for your email then. And write down my number. Not many of you have the private one,” she adds with a smile that I can perceive from her tone of voice.

“Definitely. So I can brag to Dakota that I have the number of her favorite author.”

Linda laughs as Dakota squeaks and jumps on the spot like a little girl.

“Speaking of Dakota, you don’t need to do a casting for the protagonist, is it? You’re not so crazy that you think she is not perfect,” she asks me with a certain seriousness in her voice.

“I didn’t even think about it, but I don’t tell her because that way, she prepares better for the part.” I wink at my partner, who is blushing, while Linda laughs again.

“Well, we’ll hear from you tomorrow then.”

“See you tomorrow,” I confirm before closing the call.

Dakota throws her arms around my neck as soon as I put thephone down. I hold her tightly as she laughs and cries at the same time.

“Don’t get caught up in the euphoria. She hasn’t signed yet,” I tell her, trying to protect her from any last-minute unforeseen events.

“Details. I would say that, at this point, it’s just a formality,” she tells me, giving me a light kiss on the lips.

“I have to look at the changes she asked me to make to the contract,” I insist.

“Unless she asks you to sacrifice your firstborn, I don’t see what she could ever ask, so out of mind, you can’t sign.” she kisses me again.

The tone of the phone call leaned toward a yes, and I can’t help but share Dakota’s optimism.

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